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[Jonty]

Can anyone remember what one painted the brim of a Scout hat with to stiffen it?
I should, perhaps, explain that at the age of 80 I am not in the habit of parading around in vintage Scout uniform. My old trilby, though, needs to acquire a stiff upper lip before Goodwood on Saturday.

[Big Ada]

Diluted PVA should do the trick.


Len.

[Fred Ellis]

Hi
I think some form of fabric stiffener may do it, I for one would not use starch
Found this on the webb
Water-Based Stiffener
House of Adorn Stiffener non toxic - water-based stiffener This water-based hat stiffener is made in the UK and has been supplied to the Millinery industry since the 1980's. It is made with a PVA base and can be easily diluted with water (normally 1 part stiffener to 4-5 parts water) and applied with a spray bottle, brush or immersed in a bucket/tray. It is non-flammable and non-toxic so it is safe to use and easily transported. This stiffener is mainly used in Millinery but can be used on other fabrics as well.[/size][/font]
It is highly recommended that a small sample/area is tested first before applying stiffener to the entire area to be treated. If spraying, start with a light spray and continue to spray layers until desired stiffness is achieved. If the stiffener is applied too densely or on dark colours, it may result in a visible 'white/cloudy' residue (so always remember to test first before use). For those who want to stiffen thicker materials such as wool felt, you may want to consider the Solvent-base Hat Stiffener which is stronger but is toxic and extra care must be taken when using it. [/size][/font]

[Klunk]

Spray starch,  or liquid starch in the old days!

[Jonty]

Spray starch does the trick! Thanks for the suggestions.

Trawling through the memory banks, perhaps it was a sugar solution we used to use. Or wasn't there a product called waterglass?